Hi, I just picked up my 2011 fit and mostly love it. My two complaints are the rearview mirror is a joke its so small and flimsy. I'm going to look for a replacement.

My other issue is the headlights seems pretty terrible at night. Is there a easy bulb replacement that can make the headlights better. I feel like I can hardly see the road at night.

 

I Picked up LED bulbs from Amazon. They are much better.

 

I use Beamtech LED headlights and they work fantastic ( )
For fog lights I use Alla lighting yellow's ( )

The Beamtech's take a little force to install them, but once they're in, they work like champs and haven't had to touch them since I installed them over 6 months ago.

 

I picked up cheap amazon LED bulbs and they work very well, but the best change I've seen came from aiming my lights properly. I discovered how to do it on the forums here. I think that was the best thread, but click around for instructions.
So my advice would be aim the lights first (free) and then LED bulbs if you want more light output. Then you can consider retrofitting if you want to spend more $$ and time on it.

 

I got the Phillips Xtreme 2x bright ones for $25. Did the lights and fog lights, super easy. I am happy with them, much brighter. Rebate going at AutoZone right now.

 

Philips VisionPlus . Can be purchased under $25 a pair .

 

Yes but Plus are 50% brighter. Xtreme are 100%.

 

Either do a proper HID retrofit or just live with them. All these other options are bandaids on a bullet wound.

 

 

I've bought two Hikari LED kits, supposedly, one of the them a premium "Prime" version, which I bought before buying the cheaper "regular" one. The premium was marginally brighter, but the issue is where I disagree with you. The beam pattern left a lot to be desired.

There are two main issues and both have to do with the LEDs and their placement.

Because it's an array of three LEDs, they won't act like a single point light source. That isn't necessarily bad, but due to the spacing between the LEDs, it does produce a weird "gated" output. Where, as you look from side to side, you'll see alternating brighter and dimmer spots. By contrast a different LED I'm currently using (Supernova v.4), also has a array of three LEDs, but the output is more uniform across.

The other issue is the "cutoff" pattern. Both Hikaris are quite messy when compared to the cutoff a standard halogen bulb. Where as the supernova is bit cleaner, closer to halogen.

When I compared the LED, I believe the triple LEDs in the array in the Hikaris are slightly too far apart. You can see three separate LEDs per array, while the Supernova has all three grouped closer and as part of a single LED chip. I believe this is why the Hikari looks patchy, while the Supernova looks more uniform.

Then, if you look at WHERE the LED array is... the Hikari array is further offset from centerline (putting the highbeam array on centerline) than the Supernova which actually has the low beam array on centerline with the high beam array offset.

Incidentally, less major issues with the Hikari was the brightness not being much more than the halogens, with the Supernova being even brighter. If halogens were a 3 out of 10, the Hikaris were a 4 & 5, with the Supernovas being 7. Of course they don't compare to HIDs. And another issue was the fact that, in DRL mode, it triggers the DRL warning light on my dash

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Unfortunately for me, the Supernovas have their own set of issues (aside from being 2x to 4x more expensive than the Hikaris)... mainly longevity. Within 5 days of installing them, one side died after flickering a few days prior. I took them out and got the bulb warrantied/replaced (took 3 weeks)... and less than 5 days after reinstalling the surviving bulb with the replacement... one of them is flickering again. Which is too bad, because in every aspect, they are far better than the Hikaris. Brighter, cleaner, more uniform output and no DRL warning.

But, aside from brightness, I now know what to look for when it comes to the LED array. So I ordered another brand LED too see if I can get a better compromise.

 

I did the same. I am very happy with the outcome and super easy to install. I also adjusted the beam height. They right and left were not at the same height. Life much better now.

 

I go the Ex-Treme (100% brighter) and love the results. I hope I am not blinding ppl. I avoid the high beams. I accidentally flashed a cop with my highs and thought I would get pulled over. Dohhh

 

Whereas I realize you stated your intent to get superior headlights, I'd like to instead suggest replacing the headlight assemblies with nice fresh ones. They run 90.00 a piece via reputable ebay sellers and include a ten year warranty for defects and failure. This is a link to one ebay vendor. You can also purchase from automotive retailers if ebay makes you uncomfortable, but it will require price shopping

With the age of the vehicle it can be assumed that the lenses are pretty fogged, right?
If that is the case, please replace the assembly to restore brightness instead of alternating the original design through use of elements which may cause excessive illumination. Though the movement is still in its early stages, the dangers of new HID lighting are starting to be recognized due to the "dazzling" effect they cause, primarily to individuals with cataracts. The average joe can be affected too as you know.
Infact, Florida is now recognizing partial responsibility for accidents caused or worsened by excessively bright headlights: https://www.brookslawgroup.com/auto-...t-involved-in/

I recommend a new assembly over resurfacing and clear coating because of longevity. Clearing up the dried out plastic light housings for cars that aren't garaged only lasts one year tops, and that's including UV resistant clear coat (this is based strictly on first hand experience with duplicolor, meguiars, mothers restoration kits)

 

When I first got my '11 FIT Sport, I applied film from Headlight Armor https://www.headlightarmor.com/

Car has been outside the last 8 yrs and the headlights still look pretty good.

 

 

Your suggestion would be valid, but the circumstances weren't what most go through.

About a year after I got my Fit in 2010, I replaced the headlights with a dual bulb setup. I only switched back to the factory headlights during summer of last year... after the dual bulb headlights clouded over. The factory headlights had been boxed and stored inside my garage in the meanwhile.

My headlights are excellent condition. It was quite startling actually, how unblemished they looked after reinstalling them.

So, no assumptions can't be made.

 

 

I've used a few "upgraded" halogens (mainly Silverstar Ultras)... and for myself, they do perform great (for halogen anyway) and the only real effort is FINDING them in stores sometimes, since they install exactly the same way as a standard bulb..

However, what I've also noticed is... they don't last long. And that sort of makes sense in the fact that they are essentially forced to burn hotter, which in turn shortens their life. But even if that makes sense, it hurts the wallet for the price they're at. I'm willing to pay the much higher pricing for them, if they lasted longer.

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On another note, I got my 5th set of LEDs yesterday and after installing, they're doing what I had thought they would... because of the basically "3-in-1" LED chip, the beam is uniform from left to right. And because it's practically on the center line, the cutoff is also much cleaner than the Hikaris.

So, the question is... how long will they last? If anyone is curious, this is what I bought: "Techmax Mini H4, etc."

I'm debating getting a set of beamtech bulbs just to confirm whether the more spaced out LED array that is OFF center line will behave the same as the Hikaris... but with only one car, I won't be doing it anytime soon unless the current set burns out too soon.

Oh, just double checked Amazon... Beamtech has two versions of H4 LEDs... one in the spaced out, off center and one in the single chip, on center (avail on Amazon 3/17 and 7/17, respectively). I had only previously noticed the spaced out version. Hum... I'll just stick with testing the longevity of the current set for now then.

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Combining the two sections... I'm paying a lot for LEDs, despite complaining about how expensive Silverstar Ultras are... the cheapest ones are almost as expensive as the Silverstar Ultras, while the most expensive one was four times that. For the moment, I'm willing to pay that much, in the spirit of testing out and finding the one that will satisfy me (brightness, clean/accurate cutoff and longevity). It hurts the most to find the most expensive one lasted less than a week (two weeks if you add after getting the replacement). At least I know now to avoid that specific one.

 

Mr. Goobers, you're alright!

Aaand make a bunch of valid points providing an array of information which I haven't pursued despite knowing that LED lights are much more efficient and what not.
I certainly understand pursuing something more aesthetically pleasing as the stocker housings. I dont have an example weird enough to... wait. They remind me of the bubblebutt rear bumper on the nissan cube, but light is light and you ain't here for opinions conflicting with the original question posed.
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Tying back into the halogen bulbs, despite the likelihood of beating a dead horse here This is a link to some halogens for the stock assys which are pretty darned affordable.. and include an array of choices that would trouble an optometrist.
During some reading regarding this topic I stumbled upon legitimate anti reflective glasses that will help with the dazzling effect, should anyone like-minded be concerned about jacking up their 20/20 or use nicotine products which also screw up night vision. talkin like an angry old man over here.

Movin' on, thanks for the info sir, and best of luck in your endeavors.